Samuel Barringer, nine, of Honeypots Road in Mayford, was born with severe cerebral palsy and will need constant care for the rest of his life following his delivery at St Peter’s in May 1996. Samuel’s lawyers sued the hospital’s managers — Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust — who agreed at the court on Tuesday to settle Samuel’s case. Although the exact amount of the payout was not revealed, the settlement is believed to be the largest of its kind. New rules were introduced in April where cases such as this could be settled on the basis of a lump sum payment, followed by annual “periodical payments”, which will last for as long as a negligence victim lives. Samuel was in court in his wheelchair to hear Mr Justice Holland approve the settlement. The court heard how Samuel was delivered in the early hours of May 23 1996 but the birth was delayed to such an extent that he suffered asphyxiation and cerebral palsy. Philip Havers QC, for the NHS trust, offered his client’s “profoundest regrets for the breach of duty”. He said: “Nothing can turn back the clock but the trust hopes and believes that the compromise that been achieved will meet Sam’s future needs and provide some recompense to his parents. “It has been a pleasure to see Sam in court today and we are delighted he was able to be here. “We wish Sam and his family all the best for the future.” Speaking outside court after the hearing Sam’s solicitor, Helen Goatley, said: “Sam’s parents have suffered a terrible ordeal as a result of the hospital’s negligence. “Their distress at the time of Sam’s birth can only be imagined. It took six years to extract an admission of liability from the trust and another three years to achieve a door-of-the-court settlement this morning. “Coping with Sam’s severe disabilities has been made much harder by uncertainty caused by the protracted litigation. The family are at last able to relax in the certainty that Sam will be looked after for the rest of his life.”